Page 20 - letmetellyou

Let Me Tell You . . . A Memoir
Mom’s next project arrived in the back of a pick-up truck. Mom’s next project arrived in the back of a pick-up truck.
Two black and white pigs with hairy bodies and really thick skins. Two black and white pigs with hairy bodies and really thick skins.
Initially, I wondered what room mom was going to lodge them in Initially, I wondered what room mom was going to lodge them in
when the delivering farmer unloaded them and led them to the when the delivering farmer unloaded them and led them to the
damaged, half-standing barn located only fifty yards from the damaged, half-standing barn located only fifty yards from the
house. Mom had moved some abandoned lumber and disabled house. Mom had moved some abandoned lumber and disabled
farm equipment toward the open-end of the barn to contain her farm equipment toward the open-end of the barn to contain her
newly-acquired swine until they could be fattened for slaughter, newly-acquired swine until they could be fattened for slaughter,
behind which they were deposited by their former master, honking behind which they were deposited by their former master, honking
and snorting away, as mom watched proudly, hands on her ample and snorting away, as mom watched proudly, hands on her ample
hips. About this time, my mother spotted me peering from the hips. About this time, my mother spotted me peering from the
kitchen door and waved me out and over. Having been her kitchen door and waved me out and over. Having been her
principal associate with the baby chick project, I suspected that I principal associate with the baby chick project, I suspected that I
would be enlisted to serve in the pig project as well. I discovered I would be enlisted to serve in the pig project as well. I discovered I
was right as mom began explaining to me the art of preparing the was right as mom began explaining to me the art of preparing the
slop and of slopping the hogs which we would undertake; her slop and of slopping the hogs which we would undertake; her
doing the preparing and me doing the slopping. Now that my doing the preparing and me doing the slopping. Now that my
mother is gone, I can tell you that one of the happiest days of my mother is gone, I can tell you that one of the happiest days of my
life arrived one particularly early, cold, sunny morning when life arrived one particularly early, cold, sunny morning when
carrying the steaming buckets of slop which she had prepared, I carrying the steaming buckets of slop which she had prepared, I
became aware of the silence. Unlike every previous morning, the became aware of the silence. Unlike every previous morning, the
pigs were not honking and snorting and squealing in anticipation of pigs were not honking and snorting and squealing in anticipation of
their fare. They were deadly silent, a fact that I confirmed as I their fare. They were deadly silent, a fact that I confirmed as I
climbed over mom’s makeshift barrier and found them lying side climbed over mom’s makeshift barrier and found them lying side
by side. Upon investigation, I discovered an open, saliva- by side. Upon investigation, I discovered an open, saliva-
moistened, half empty bag of cement upon which mom’s hogs had moistened, half empty bag of cement upon which mom’s hogs had
apparently feasted and which, apparently, led to their demise. Out apparently feasted and which, apparently, led to their demise. Out
of respect for my mom (but mostly to avoid a reprisal), I managed of respect for my mom (but mostly to avoid a reprisal), I managed
to hide my glee at the unexpected end of the pig project and, while to hide my glee at the unexpected end of the pig project and, while
I can’t recall for certain, I might even have managed to feign I can’t recall for certain, I might even have managed to feign
sorrow in a show of support for her loss. sorrow in a show of support for her loss.
The pig project dampened my mother’s enthusiasm for The pig project dampened my mother’s enthusiasm for
farming, but there was one more agricultural project before the farming, but there was one more agricultural project before the
farm was sold by its owner and we were required to leave. The farm was sold by its owner and we were required to leave. The
abutting landowner had approached my dad about sharecropping abutting landowner had approached my dad about sharecropping
the land. My father would make no investment but would receive the land. My father would make no investment but would receive
a share of the profits from the ten acres or so of tillable property. a share of the profits from the ten acres or so of tillable property.
My dad had agreed and the farmer planted corn. Owing to an My dad had agreed and the farmer planted corn. Owing to an
unusually rainy harvest season, the entire ten acres could not be unusually rainy harvest season, the entire ten acres could not be
fully harvested and the farmer decided to leave several acres of fully harvested and the farmer decided to leave several acres of
low land of corn. Once again, my mother’s Serbian peasant roots low land of corn. Once again, my mother’s Serbian peasant roots
stirred and she decided to make a family project of hand harvesting stirred and she decided to make a family project of hand harvesting
this corn. This project was a huge success. My mom, my dad, my this corn. This project was a huge success. My mom, my dad, my
three brothers, my sister and I worked tirelessly, sometimes in the three brothers, my sister and I worked tirelessly, sometimes in the
drizzling cold, to pluck the corn, place it in bushel baskets, and drizzling cold, to pluck the corn, place it in bushel baskets, and
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